Tukel v Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force
[2021] NSWCATAD 60
At a glance
Source factsCourt
NCAT Administrative and Equal Opportunity
Decision date
2021-02-09
Before
Health J
Catchwords
- 5 FCR 88 Fitzgibbon v Turnbull [2017] FCA 968
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Catchwords
Judgment (8 paragraphs)
Background
- On 14 November 2018 the respondent Commissioner made a firearms prohibition order (FPO) against Mr Tukel, under s 73(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW). In brief terms, the FPO was made because of Mr Tukel's antecedents and his association with an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG), which led the Commissioner to form the opinion that Mr Tukel 'is not fit, in the public interest, to have possession of a firearm'.
- Mr Tukel asked for an internal review of the Commissioner's decision but the decision was affirmed. Mr Tukel then applied to the Tribunal for an administrative review of the Commissioner's decision.
- The administrative review by the Tribunal is to be conducted under the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997 (NSW) (ADR Act): Firearms Act, s 75(1).
- In accordance with standard practice, the Tribunal made orders for the Commissioner to lodge material in the substantive matter pursuant to s 58 of the ADR Act, and the Commissioner filed and served a bundle of documents on 8 November 2019.
- The Commissioner also foreshadowed that he would seek an order under s 59 of the ADR Act releasing him from the obligation to lodge a number of additional documents under s 58. Such an order, in combination with others sought by the Commissioner, would allow the Commissioner to use the additional documents in the review proceeding but to keep them confidential from Mr Tukel and his legal representatives.
- The Commissioner describes the package of orders that he seeks as 'standard confidentiality orders'. As originally drafted, the Commissioner sought the following orders: 1. Pursuant to s 49 of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NCAT Act), the hearing of this application be conducted in the absence of the Applicant in the substantive proceedings, the legal representative for the Applicant in the substantive proceedings, and the public. 2. Pursuant to s 59 of the ADR Act, the Commissioner not be required to lodge copies of the documents (Confidential Documents) specified in the confidential affidavit in support of the Application and provided to the Tribunal in accordance with the orders of the Tribunal (Confidential Affidavit). 3. Pursuant to NCAT Act s 64(1)(c), the publication of the Confidential Documents and the Confidential Affidavit, or matters contained in the Confidential Documents and the Confidential Affidavit, is prohibited. 4. Pursuant to NCAT Act s 64(1)(d), the disclosure of the Confidential Documents and the Confidential Affidavit, or matters contained in the Confidential Documents and the Confidential Affidavit, is restricted to the Commissioner, the legal representatives for the Commissioner and the Tribunal. 5. Pursuant to ss 64(1)(b) and 64(1)(c) of the NCAT Act, the publication and reporting of the hearing of this application, including any evidence given during the hearing, is prohibited.